Gabon coup: Military chief says suspension of democracy only 'temporary'

www.bbc.com...

Gabon's new military leader has pledged to return the country to democracy, but has refused to provide a timelines for fresh elections.

Gen Brice Oligui Nguema said the country's state institutions would be made more democratic and their suspension was only "temporary".

But Gabon's opposition coalition says the military shows no signs of handing power back to a civilian government.

The deposed president, Ali Bongo, was placed under house arrest this week.

Army officers appeared on state TV in the early hours of Wednesday to say they had seized control, ending the Bongo family's 55-year hold on power in the central African state.

They said they had annulled the results of Saturday's presidential election, in which Mr Bongo was declared the winner but which the opposition said was fraudulent

This isn't the only coup in Africa. One of the many in the last few years following coups in Chad, Guinea, Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Sudan, Central African Republic, Tunisia.

It looks like the opposition wanted the ousting of the deposed president but they were looking to take over as they claim they're the rightful winners of the recent elections. Another turbulent period for the country seems to be starting after the many decades of ruling by the same family (that of the deposed president).

What do all these countries have in common?

Their pro-American, pro-NATO, and pro-EU presidents who were all installed by western backed coups, were allowing foreign entities to pillage their countries natural resources. It's all out there for anyone willing to research it.

After America cut aid the current leader of Burkina Faso was heard saying "They can keep it, from where I stand they need it more than we do".

The more the world watches America, NATO and it's allies flounder in Ukraine against the Russians the more we will see these countries raise up against their foreign oppressors. It's not a coincidence this is happening after Putin expunged billions in debt and made a pledge to protect these nations not bomb them or flood them with weapons.

I'm curious what American news is saying about this? Are they condemning it? Since this coup was done because they claim it was fraudulent (the election), based on that I would bet money western MSM will condemn the coup. I love when a corrupt cheating government gets thrown out by a military.

eta: The same thing happened in Honduras years ago and Hillary and all the rest of her ilk over here condemned it. They hate when cheaters get kicked to the curb.

Any time democracy is suspended, no good can come of it.

originally posted by: Nickn3
Any time democracy is suspended, no good can come of it.

In power for 55 years? That's not democracy.

Gabon's new military leader has pledged to return the country to democracy, but has refused to provide a timelines for fresh elections.

They ALWAYS say that. And either the elections never come or it's a choice between puppets that the new leadership has handpicked.

a reply to: JAY1980

Of course, that nice benevolent Mr Putin has no designs on Africa's natural resources just like the Wagner Group didn't?

More double standards, no?

a reply to: JAY1980

"Their pro-American, pro-NATO, and pro-EU presidents who were all installed by western backed coups..."

Any evidence for these claims?

a reply to: JAY1980

Yea, definitely a history of western influence that goes back before the world wars in Africa.

And the west found a way to keep a bit of control through the Cold War.

How was Russia treating the countries it controlled around that time? How were they treating their own people? Much of the worlds population lived under communism, how was that compared to being in western nations?

Funny how all the “resistance” to the west is openly autocratic. As if that’s salvation to the west.

The west, NATO, and the US are imperfect, I’d still take that to the alternatives though.

a reply to: CriticalStinker

Lots of African countries are members of the Commonwealth, of their own volition.

Ali Bongo? Now, that's a name to conjure with....